Vestibule-trap-door mechanism.



' door mechanism, such vestibule platforms of passen er cars, and l srA'rEs PAtrEN'r oFFICE.

vIC'ron WILLOUGHBY, or JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANmassQi-Non To AMERICAN CAB AND FoUNDaY CoMPANY, or s'r. LoUIs, mssouanu JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VICTOR WILLOUCHBY, residing at Jeffersonville, Clark county, Indiana, and being a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vestibule-Trap-Door Mechanism, of which the following is a clear, and exact description, such asl full will enable others skilled in the 'art to Which it appertains to make and to use thesame,'ref' erence being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described,

as it is obvious that various modifications thereof will occur to persons skilled in the art. Y

In said drawings: Figure 1 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view takenl outside ofthe top riser of the steps leading to the car 4 vestibule,

the trap door in said vestibule being shown in openposition-'in dot and dash lines; Fig. 2 1s a vertical central section through the door locking means and a portion of the trap door; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through said locking device, being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the latching end of the locking device, showing gthe same mounted in the car platform, part of the plunger being broken away; and Fig; 5 is a detail view showing the operating arm in contact with the roller carried by the rearwardly extending arm of the hinge member that is attached to the door.

The present inventionrelates to trap as is employed in the has to do with the provision o a trap door which may, or may not, be automatically raised from its usual horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent the end sheathing of the car body. y The arrangement is such that said trap door may occupy its horizontal or closed position and be influenced toward opening, but restrained therefrom by suitable locking means. It is also the intention that the trainman may readily release the door by actuating a plunger, either by pressing it with his foot or from underneath the car platform when the vestibule door is locked andentrance to the vestibule prevented.

One of the objects is to impart an initial Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 5, 1916. Serial No. 89,182.

` CGRPOBATION OF NEW vEsTIBULE-'raAr-noon MnCHANfstn-'' Patented oet; 3, 191e.

kick to the closed door. to partially open the same, after which the automatic door opening means will carry it substantially,

or entirely, to its open position. It is to be understood,l however, that the automatic door openmg means may be omitted and that the 1n1t1al lmpulse given to the door will raise it suiiiciently so that the released edge may be grasped and the door' manually opened. The parts of thev locking device are -so automatically controlled that, after .the

release of the door, they resume their lockin'g positions so thatwhen the door is returned to its closed position, no further attention need be given it to insure its secure retention.

Further .objects manifest hereinafter and are all parts of the present izrve'ntion.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the top riser of the steps leading into the vestibule and 2 the end sheathing of the car, the

said steps extending between the end sheathing and the buiieup .platform ena sin a. An, i

angle 4 -extends transversely lof the car, the vertical flange of whichv lies against the outer face of the end sheathing 2 and between angle 4 and platform end sill 3 `is located a trap door 5, positioned to cover the steps in the usual manner. Said trap'door 5 of 4merit will become i is sti-iiened by av hinge member 6 which has a rearwardly and downwardly extending arm 7. An associated hinge member 8 is sc cured to angle 4: and pivotally connected with hinge member 6 attached to the door by a suitable pin 9. Stationary hinge member 8 contains a .bearing 10 for a shortv shaft 1l which extends to another hinge 'member 8 (not shown), it being understood that any number of hinges comprising the members 6 and 8 may be disposed along the hinged edge ofthe door, two of such hinges being commonly employed. At each hinge an operating arm 12 is keyed to the shaft 11 and lever 13 is also secured a hook bolt 15, retained in a bracket 1,6

secured to the inside of the top stepvriser 1. It is therefore evident that spring 14 exerts a pull'upon the free end of actuating lever 13, thereby tending to rotate shaft 11. When shaft 11 is permitted to rotate, i. e., when the trainman operates the locking device 17, it partially revolves carrying with it operating vlever 12. The latter, bears against the roller onrearwardly projecting arm 7 of hinge member 6, revolves arm 7 about hinge pin 9 and the door stiil'ening hinge member 6 describes an upward are, moving the door toward its open position.

Afterthe exit and entry of passengers the trap door 5 will be pushed down by the trainman to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 where it will be retained by the lock ing device 17. The relationship of `the engaged edge of the trap door 5 and the mechanism of the locking device 17, which controls the door when it is in coperative relation with said locking device, is an important -part of this invention. The movable Jarts yof the locking device 17v are main y housed in a casing 418 shown in the drawings to have a box-like structure pro- -vided with a depending cylindrical spring pocket 19. 1n the top wall of the casing 18 -is a plunger aperture 20 vertically alined with the spring pocket 19. A. plunger 21 passes through aperture 20, casing 18 and emerges from an aperture in the bottom of spring pocket 19. The upper end of plunger 21 is provided with a head 22 adapted to receive the impact of the operators foot, which head may be serrated to prevent sli page of the operatorls foot which mig t render the plunger ineffective. .After en* tering thev upper part of the casing 18, the plunger isVA of reduced diameter to form -a shoulder 23.. With its lower end seated in pocket 19, is a spring 24 which extends upwardly into the interior of the casing 18 and is surmounted by a washer 25. Appropriately spaced above washer 25 is another washer 26, the upper face of which engages the annular shoulder 23 of plunger 21. Between wash'ers 25 and 26 projects the bifurcated end of a lever 27 which, in its normal position, slopes downwardly toward the open end of casing 18, projecting outside of said casing to form a kicker or impulse member 28 adapted to give an initial opening movement to the door, ashereinafter described. A rivet 29 passes through the vertical side walls of casing 18 and lever 27, forming a fulcrum for the latter. Lever 27 is also provided with upstanding `brackets or ears 30, spaced so that each continues upwardly from one side of said lever. A dog or latch 31 is positioned between brackets 30 and is adapted to swing on a pivot pin 32 which has its bearings in the brackets 30. Latch 31 is provided with a depending iiauge-like detent 33 which engages `with a ineens@ coperating upstanding detent 34 on the lever. The engagement between the detents 33 and 34 is maintained by a spring 35, the free ends of which are anchored in lever .2,7 From each anchored'end the wire'of spring 35 extends upwardly and contains helical convolutions, and after progressing beyond the convolutions said wire of the spring extends downwardly along the inner face of latch 31 in a continuous manner. Under the influence of spring 35 not only are detents the outer end of said latch 31 projects out of casing 18 and over the adjacent edge of the door when the latter occupies its closed position. Thus the under or convex side of latch 31 and the upper exposed surface of impulse extension or kicker 28, form a pocket adapted to retain the door when it is in closed position.

Desiring to open the door, a trainman presses the head 22 of plunger 21 driving the latter downwardly. Plunger shoulder 23 carries upper washer 26 downwardly with the plunger, and the bifurcated end of lever 27 is depressed to substantially the dot and dash line position indicated in Fig. 2. As a result of this action, latch 31 and lever 27 being unified by spring 35,4 latch 31 swings about the axis of lever pivot 29 to the dot and dash line position depicted in Fig. 2. As shown, latch 21 is substantially withdrawn into the casing 18. Substantially simultaneously with the withdrawal of latch 31, impulse extension or kicker 28 moves to engage the underside of the adjacent door edge and raise it a suitable distance, such as indicated by dot and dash lines in said Fig. 2. 'Where the door opening or raising mechanism previously described is employed, it will carry the door from the dot and dash line just referred to to substantially that indicated in Fig. 1. 1t is not always necessary to employ the autovmatic door opening means and when it is swung to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1. rlhe door having been carried past latch 31, the trainman is free to release his foot from plunger head 22, whereupon the now compressed spring 24 will exert an upward thrust upon washer 25 and the bifurcated end of lever 27 will be raised automatically to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, and the locking device 17 will again be in its normal, state. Passengers having i 33 and 34 maintained in engagement, buty luence of spring 35. Y The latter returns latch 31 tothe full line position in Fig. 2.

after the door has passed said latch. .The

adjacent door edge will then occupy the re-. taining pocket formed-by latch '31 and im pulse extension 28. Locking device'l? may" be mounted in any appropriate manner, but

preferably is .provided with integral -hori- -zontal flanges 37,',which are secured, as by, screws, to the platform flooring of the plat form end sill 3.

What I claim is;

l. In combination in a platform, a doorl under an opening influence when closed, and a door locking-and-starting device comprising door-impulse means and a doorelatohing contrivance carried thereby and operable inf dependently thereof by said door in closing,

said impulse means and latching contrivance acting as an integer to release and partly open said door.

2. In combination in a'platform, a. door,

automatic door-opening means, and a door'. lockmg-and-startlng device comprlslng ini-- tial impulse means for said door, and a doorlatching contri-Vance carried by said impulse 1 means to extend into the path of said-door and operable independently of said impulse means by said door inclosingand simultaneously therewith to release said door, saidimpulse means impartingan initial opening kick to said door.

3. In combination, `a -door, door-opening means influential when the door 1s closed, and a door locking-and-startlmg. means comprising a rockable initial impulse member and` a d oor-latching contrivance mounted therei on and adapted to be retracted by said door in closing and to retain said door in closed position, said starting member and latching contrivance being adapted to 'act as a unit to release. and to impart an initial opening` impulse to' said door upon rocking said;

starting member.

4. In combination in a platform, a door under an opening iniuence when closed, and a door locking-and-starting device comprising a movable initial impulse member, a, latch carried thereby and means normally projecting said latch into the path of saidl door, said latch being independently operable by said door in closing and unified with said impulse member upon movement of the latter, whereby said impulse member imparts an initial opening movement to'said doorv and said latch is simultaneously withdrawn. v

5. In combination in a4 platform, a door and a door locking-and-starting device comprising an initial impulse member, a latch carried thereby, and means normally project'ing said latch into the path of said door and' unifying said impulse member and latch at predetermined times, said latch being operable by said door in moving to a latchbeing adapted to withdraw said latch with- 4retaining position and said im ulse member out relative movement therewith and to i partly open said door.

6.,In= combination ina platforima door vand 'a doorlockingand-s'tarting device com-` prising an initial impulse member and a door retaining latch, and'me'ans so cori-'ef independently by said vdoor in closing vand can be withdrawn by movement of. said im-V vpulse'member without relative movementof vsaid correlating 4means, latch .and impulse member, the latterbeing'adapted to lp artly j open. said door during the withdniwal of g' -said latch. I

. 7. In .combination in a. platform; afdoor ylating the vsame that. said latch is operable', f 175'. f

and a door locking-and-starting ldevice com- "prising a pivotally mounted impiilsemem`r ber, a door-retaining latch pivotally carried the latter is independently oscillated by said door in closing and both turnedl in `unification" about'the 'axis' o f. revolution of said impulse member, the latter partly opening said 'doo-r and said latch being withdrawn, upon actuation of said impulse member.

y8. lIn combination in a vestibule platform,

an impulse member and a latch having do0r,l confining portions, a trap door having a portion retained between saidimpulse member and latch confining portions when closed, said latch being independently operable by said door in closing and unified with said impulse member during movement thereof,

whereby said door-confining portions of said latch and impulse membersare withdrawn and caused to partly open said door, respec Ativeljhj l f f ASS' thereby, and means normally projecting said llatch into `the path of said door andso correlating said impulsemember and latch that 10o'y i 9. In combination in a vestibule platform, f

a trap door and a door locking-andstarting device mounted adjacent the closed position of'an edge of' said door and comprising a casing, a lever pivoted therein and comprehending a rearwardly' extending arm,a for- Wardly projecting vdoor impulse extension and a latch support, 'a latch pivoted in the latter and resilient latch-projecting means,

said door rin closing, an actuation of said rear lever arm causing said latch to -be withdrawn substantially Ainto said casing and said impulse extension to partly open said door.

10. In combination in a vestibule platl form, a trap door and a doorlocki'ngand- 115 said latch being independently operable by l pendently operable by said door in closing and unified with said lever at other times, and operating means adapted to turn said i latch and lever in unification to substantially withdraw the former intosaid casing and cause said impulse extension to partly open said door.

11. In combination in-a' vestibule platform, a trap door and a door'locking-and-- starting device mounted onthe platform and comprising a casing, ing therefrom, a latchpivotally carrie said lever, means causing-said latcht act with said impulse extension-tol) N ma door edge-retaining pocket, "said latch'being independently operable in having a door-impulse extension prolecte -independent operation of said latch 'by said door in closing, actuation of said lever causing the same and said latch to turn in unilication whereby said latch releases the door and said impulse extension partly opens said door.

13. In combination, a door and a doo-r a lever pivoted there-5.-v

' l-by said door in closing,

lfying said latch and by said door in closing and unified with said lever at.' Iother to cause impulse eXten locking-and-starting .device comprising a casing containing a spring pocket, a plunger passing through said@ casing, a spring surrounding the same and seated in said pocket, spaced followers slidable on said plunger, one being adapted to be driven thereby, a lever pivoted in said casing, op-

erably engaging said followers and provided with a door-impulse extension and latch-carrying means, a resiliently` pressed vlatch adapted to be independently operated and means for unilever, whereby operation of said plunger withdraws said latch, causes said impulse extension to partly open said door and said spring returning thev parts to their normal positions.

14. In combination, a door and a door locking-and-starting device comprising a casing containing a spring pocket, a plunger passingthrough said casing, a spring surrounding the same and seated in said pocket, lever actuating means responsive to said plunger and spring, a lever provided with an impulse extension and a latch, the latter being independently operable byvsaid door in closing, and means for unifying said lever and latch at predetermined times, whereby operation of said plunger withdraws said latch, causes said impulse eX-` tension to partly open said door and 'said spring returning said latch, lever and eX- tension to their normal positions.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two witnesses.

VICTOR WILIIOUGIIBY.

Witnesses v THEoDoRE IJYoNs, ALLEN W. CLARKE. 

